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Printed letters, July 6, 2010

They say history repeats itself. They also say the definition of insanity is to repeat the same action and expect different results. It appears that our current administration does not study history and must be insane.

California eliminates the creation and expansion of jobs by not permitting any type of energy production, either in their state or off shore. California is now all but bankrupt, with no plan to solve their problem.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter follows California’s lead and turns Colorado’s oil, gas and coal industry upside down, costing an untold number of jobs, drastic cuts in education and creating a budget deficit as if he were in competition with California.

Now, I guess, our federal government wants to follow both California and Colorado’s lead and restrict oil production in the Gulf Region. The estimates as to cost and job loss are staggering.

We do need to improve drilling safety and do our best to ensure that there are no future accidents, but we need to do this in a responsible way. All I have heard is, “We will make them pay.” After 70-plus days, I have yet to hear “this is our solution.”

We need leadership to solve problems, not point fingers. We need leadership to develop a team of leaders, not a group of sheep. We need a change in direction, before it’s too late.

When you go to the polls this year, remember who points fingers, and who are the sheep voting a straight party line without thought to the people represented.

RANDY LITWILLER

Crawford

Tax measures’ opponents display their hypocrisy

The June 28 article about the Colorado Municipal League campaigning against the three tax relief measures left out vital facts.

The CML gets its money from city taxes paid to it as dues. It has donated thousands of those tax dollars to the campaign committee opposing issues 60, 61 and 101. That is documented at COtaxreforms.com.

They may be “nonpartisan,” but they are definitely not neutral or objective. Their goal is more and more taxes for big government. They always oppose any limits on government.

Their leader said there have been “cuts” in city governments. The state property tax report, posted on our website, shows that municipal property taxes in 1993, after TABOR passed, were $116 million; in 2008, the last year recorded, they were $246 million, more than double. During that period, they never went down.

The issues do not “add more stress.” They provide tax relief for taxpayers. Of course, the tax spenders don’t care about relief for taxpayers. They want more power and more programs.

The new revenue will broaden the tax base and must be used to lower property tax rates equally for everyone. How can our liberal opponents tell us higher taxes are good and then object to paying them? The word “hypocrisy” comes to mind. Why continue these tax subsidies to socialism?

Slowing the rate of increase in government revenue about 2 percent is not the end of the world. Colorado families have adjusted far more than that. A slower rate of increase is not a “cut.” The modest tax relief in these three issues is phased in over four to 12 years. How is that radical or devastating?

Vote “Yes” on Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101.

NATALIE MENTEN Campaign Coordinator

COtaxreforms

Denver

A wonderful photo of Mennonite kids

The photo of the Mennonite kids in the June 28 edition of The Daily Sentinel was wonderful! It made my day.